Yarn package



Nov. 30, 1965 R. scoTT 3,220,545

YARN PACKAGE Filed March 5, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet l \jzg N. R. SCOTT 3,220,545

YARN PACKAGE Nov. 30, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 5, 1964 United States Patent 3,220,545 YARN PACKAGE Nelson Randolph Scott, Martinsville, Va., assignor to E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, Wilmington, Del., a corporation of Delaware Filed Mar. 3, 1964, Ser. No. 348,291 3 Claims. (Cl. 20665) This invention relates to shipping carton assemblies and more particularly to assemblies for storing and shipping packages of yarn.

The bulk of the yarn produced in the textile industry is wound into packages such as bobbins, cones, cheeses, pins and the like. During the storing and shipping of these yarn packages, they must be supported such as to prevent them from rubbing against each other or against the walls of the carton in which they are contained, since such rubbing would mar at least the outer layers of yarn on the packages. The shipping carton assemblies employed for storing and shipping yarn packages have included means such as apertured inserts, for engaging the yarn packages so as to prevent movement thereof and damage to the yarn wound thereon. However, these assemblies have been rather expensive and have required a considerable amount of labor for their assembly and disassembly, thereby increasing the handling costs in storing and shipping the yarn packages. In addition, these assemblies have failed to provide adequate support for the yarn packages, with the result that yarn damage frequently occurs, particularly when the loaded assembly is subjected to shocks during handling or shipping. Further, these shipping assemblies do not provide adequate support for the moving of a partially unloaded multipackage container.

It is an important object of this invention to provide an assembly for storing and shipping packages of yarn which will be free from the foregoing and other disadvantages of assemblies heretofore employed for this purpose and which will be especially simple in construction and efiicient in use.

A further object of this invention is the provision of an assembly for storing and shipping packages of yarn which will engage and support the yarn packages so as to avoid relative displacement thereof and damage to the yarn wound thereon.

Another object is an assembly which is easy for the customer to unload or partially unload and still be stable enough to move to another location without damaging the yarn.

Still another object is an assembly for storing and shipping packages of yarn which is so simple in construction that separate assembly operations are not required.

Yet another object is an assembly for storing and shipping packages of yarn which is made from inexpensive materials so that it is essentially a throw-away carton rather than one requiring re-use to be economical.

Other objects of this invention together with certain details of construction and combination of parts, will be apparent from the following detailed description and claims.

The objects of this invention are accomplished by an assembly for storing and shipping separate yarn packages in stacked arrangement, the yarn of each package being wound upon a yarn tube, comprising a carton, bottom and top pads positioned within said carton, said bottom and top pads each having a plurality of locating means, a plurality of holding pads intermediately positioned between said bottom and top pads for separating said yarn packages into superposed layers, each holding pad having a plurality of openings in register with the interior of said yarn tubes (i.e., said openings coincide in alignment and size with the inside dimensions of the yarn tubes) thereby ice forming a continuous passage Within each stack of yarn packages, a plurality of holding tubes removably positioned one on top of the other inside each continuous passage and having their ends terminating intermediate the ends of said yarn tubes to form a segmented post, and the ends of the segmented post being restrained from lateral movement by said locating means.

Whereas the yarn of each yarn package is preferably wound upon a yarn tube having a circular outer dimension, the cross-section of the interior of the yarn tube may be of any configuration, such as circular, elliptical, triangular, square, or any other polygon.

In the following drawings, there is disclosed a structure designed to carry out the objects of this invention, but it should be noted that the invention is not confined to the structure shown, as various changes may be made within the scope of the claims which follow.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary cross-section showing one stack of five yarn packages;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view on the line 22 of FIGURE 1; and

FIG. 3 is a sectional view on the line 33 of FIG- URE 1.

Illustrated in FIGURE 1 is one stack of yarn packages which comprises part of a shipping carton assembly 10. There may be any number of such stacks. At the bottom of the stack is the bottom pad 12 in which is formed a triangular-shaped projection 14 (see FIGURES 2 and 3). There are four (4) holding pads 16 and a top pad 18 with a triangular-shaped projection 20 inverted with respect to projection 14. The yarn of yarn package 22 is Wound upon a cylindrical yarn tube 24, having a circular interior cross-section, by any conventional winding means. Circular openings 28 (see FIGURES 2 and 3) in holding pads 16 have the same diameter as the inside diameter of the yarn tubes 24 and are in register therewith, thus forming a continuous passage within each stack of yarn packages. Inside the continuous passage are cylindrical holding tubes 26 removably positioned one on top of the other. The upper end of the top holding tube 26 and the lower end of the bottom holding tube 26 are keyed over projections 14-, while all the other ends of the holding tubes 26 terminate intermediate the ends of the yarn tubes 24 as illustrated in FIGURE 1. A plurality of such stacks are enclosed in a suitable carton. The bottom of the carbon is illustrated by numeral 30 and the top by numeral 32.

The outside diameter of the holding tube 26 is just slightly smaller than the inside diameter of yarn tube 24. The diiference in diameters, or clearance, should be sufiicient to make it easy to slide the tubes into position, but small enough to provide adequate support. For example, when hard paper tubes are used, the inside diameter of the yarn tube 24 may be 2 inches and the outside diameter of the holding tube 26 may be 1 inches. With a plastic material, a closer tolerance is possible.

The holding tubes 26 form a segmented post which is restrained, at each end, from lateral displacement by projections 14 and 20, and in between the ends, by the holding pads 16. The holding pads 16 are essentially the same size as the inside of the carton.

Generally, all of the tubes, 24 and 26, and pads, 12, 16 and 18, are paper or corrugated board construction. The inwardly directed projections, 14 and 20, in the bottom pad 12 and top pad 18, respectively, can be formed by any well-known means. Though shown as triangular, any projections which prevent lateral movement of the ends of the segmented posts are adequate. While projections are illustrated, any suitable locating means can be used. For example, there can be recessed openings to receive the ends of the segmented posts and thus prevent lateral movement. The openings 28 in holding pad 16 are cut with a precision die to insure proper alignment in each stack. In the drawings (see FIGURES 2 and 3) the openings 28 are shown as circular and the interior of the yarn tubes 24 as having a circular cross-section. However, the cross-section of the interior of the yarn tubes 24, the exterior of the holding tubes 26 and the openings 28 may be of any configuration as long as the interior of the yarn tubes 24 and openings 28 are in register, and the holding tubes 26 are sliclably positioned within the continuous passage formed thereby. Preferably, hard paper tubes are used for the yarn tubes 24 and holding tubes 26 so that they can be readily discarded after a single use. However, plastic or other materials can be readily used in place of the paper composition.

The method of loading yarn packages is as follows: Bottom pad 12 is placed in the carton bottom 30 of the shipping assembly. Carton bottom 30 has a standard drop door, well known in the industry, for ease of loading. Yarn package 22, having a yarn tube 24, is placed over projection 14 and rests on the bottom pad 12. A layer of such packages is positioned. Then the first holding tubes 26 are inserted inside the yarn tubes 24 and keyed over projections 14 to prevent lateral movement of said holding tubes. Then a holding pad 16 is placed over the plurality of holding tubes 26. Since there are four (4) holding tubes 26 for the five yarn tubes 24 in each stack, the first holding tube 26 projects above the first-holding pad 16 and forms a post-like projection. The next layer of yarn packages 22 is placed over these projecting tubes 26. In similar manner, the second holding pad 16 is placed over this layer of packages and the second holding tubes 26 are inserted through the circular openings 28 and rest upon the first holding tubes 26. In similar manner, five (5) layers of yarn packages 22, four (4) holding pads 16 and four (4) holding tubes 26 (per stack) are assembled together. Finally, the top pad 18 is placed in position, with the projections 20 inside the top holding tubes 26, and then top cover 32 of the shipping carton is placed over the bottom 30. The assembly is then suitably strapped together.

Since the length of the holding tubes 26 and the yarn tubes 24 do not coincide at any point other than at the bottom and the top of the carton, a column is formed with the yarn packages 22 held apart vertically by the holding pads 16 and the lateral movement controlled by the holding tubes 26. Since the holding tubes 26 form a column or segmented post, lateral stresses are distributed up and down this column and absorbed by all holding pads in contact with them. This prevents any lateral or sideway movement of the packages and prevents damage to the yarn thereon. While it is desirable to ship this carton with the stack in the vertical position, frequently in the handling of these cartons, particularly in loading and unloading on trucks, etc., cartons will be placed on their side. This assembly provides support for the packages, no matter how they are positioned even when subjected to the impacts in a truck or similar transporting device.

It has been found with other types of assemblies which comprise short-length projections or pins which just engage the first portion of the inside of the yarn tube 24 that, when these carton assemblies are subjected to shock in transport, frequently these pins will pull out of the inside of these tubes. This is particularly true during the so-called bellows action that occurs when the assembly is subjected to the impacts encountered in trucking these packages over the highway. This cannot happen with the assembly of this invention.

In many of the previous assemblies used, a complete assembly is required to provide adequate support for moving the carton. This carton can be partially unloaded and then readily moved and still provide good support and prevent the yarn on the yarn packages from being damaged. This is made possible by the segmented post or column of this invention. In the past, where a one-piece post was used, the entire post had to be removed in order to gain access to the lower packages, thereby removing the support for the remaining packages. With the assembly of 'this invention, a few of the holding tubes may be removed to gain access to the lower packages Without removing the entire post. This leaves the other holding tubes in place to provide support for the remaining packages.

It is to be understood that the foregoing description is by way of example only and that various modifications and changes in the details may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An assembly for storing and shipping separate yarn packages in stacked arrangement, the yarn of each package being Wound upon a yarn tube, comprising a carton having said yarn packages therein, bottom and top pads positioned within said carton, said bottom and top pads each having a plurality of locating means, a plurality of holding pads intermediately positioned between said bottom and top pads separating said yarn packages into superposed layers, each holding pad having a plurality of openings in register with the interior of said yarn tubes thereby forming a continuous passage within each stack of yarn packages, and a plurality of holding tubes each having an upper end and a lower end removably positioned one on top of the other inside each continuous passage to form a segmented post, the upper and lower ends of the segmented post being restrained from lateral movement by said locating means, all the other ends of said holding tubes terminating intermediate the ends of said yarn tubes.

2. An assembly for storing and shipping separate yarn packages in stacked arrangement, the yarn of each package being wound upon a yarn tube having a circular interior cross-section, comprising a carton having said yarn packages therein, bottom and top pads positioned within said carton, said bottom and top pads each having a plurality of inwardly directed projections extending therefrom, a plurality of holding pads intermediately positioned between said bottom and top pads separating said yarn packages into superposed layers, each holding pad having a plurality of circular openings in register with the interior of the yarn tubes thereby forming a continuous passage within each stack of yarn packages, and a plurality of cylindrical holding tubes each having an upper end and a lower end removably positioned one on top of the other inside each continuous passage to form a segmented post, the upper and lower ends of the segmented post being restrained from lateral movement by said inwardly directed projections, all the other ends of said holding tubes terminating intermediate the ends of said yarn tubes.

3. The assembly of claim 2 wherein all pads and tubes are of paper construction.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,181,198 11/1939 Moskowitz 206-65 2,424,553 7/ 1947 Conti 206-46 2,631,724 3/ 3 Wright 206-65 2,708,066 5/1955 Caraher 206-65 2,710,689 6/ 1955 Prossen 206-65 2,812,058 11/1957 Pink 206-65 2,930,408 3/1960 Stevens 206-65 3,051,307 8/ 1962 Hoey 206-65 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,058,184 11/1953 France.

THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner. 

2. AN ASSEMBLY FOR STORING AND SHIPPING SEPARATE YARN PACKAGES IN STACKED ARRANGEMENT, THE YARN OF EACH PACKAGE BEING WOUND UPON A YARN TUBE HAVING A CIRCULAR INTERIOR CROSS-SECTION, COMPRISING A CARTON HAVING SAID YARN PACKAGES THEREIN, BOTTOM AND TOP PADS POSITIONED WITHIN SAID CARTON, SAID BOTTOM AND TOP PADS EACH HAVING A PLURALITY OF INWARDLY DIRECTED PROJECTIONS EXTENDING THEREFROM, A PLURALITY OF HOLDING PADS INTERMEDIATELY POSITIONES BETWEEN SAID BOTTOM AND TOP PADS SEPARATING SAID YARN PACKAGES INTO SUPERPOSED LAYERS, EACH HOLDING PAD HAVING A LURALITY OF CIRCULAR OPENINGS IN REGISTER WITH THE INTERIOR OF THE YARN TUBES THEREBY FORMING A CONTINUOUS PASSAGE WITHIN EACH STACK OF YARN PACKAGES, AND A PLURALITY OF CYLINDRICAL HOLDING TUBES EACH HAVING AN 